Youth murdered in gang attack

A 17-YEAR-old city youth was murdered today when he was brutally attacked by a gang of up to 10 people.

A 17-YEAR-old city youth was murdered today when he was brutally attacked by a gang of up to 10 people.A 17-YEAR-old city youth was murdered today when he was brutally attacked by a gang of up to 10 people.

Ross Parker was with his 19-year-old girlfriend when the attack took place on a lonely cycle path by the side of Bourges Boulevard, in the city centre.

The girl, terrified by the assault, ran for help and managed to flag down a passing police car.

The officers were on the scene within minutes, but it was too late, and Ross, a former Jack Hunt School pupil, was found dead.

Today, Detective Superintendent David Hankins said: "There does not appear to be any motive for this senseless attack. A young man s life has been snatched away in a terrible tragedy."

The brutal attack took place at 1.15am as Ross and his girlfriend, who has not been named, walked from the Solstice pub in the city centre, where they both worked, towards a friend s house in Bourges Boulevard, Millfield.

It happened on the cycle path near Harris Street on the Gladstone Street side of Bourges Boulevard, about 100 yards away from an underpass.

Police said they believed the gang were all Asian. They have not yet ruled out the possibility it was a race attack.

Ross s girlfriend, who is also from Peterborough, was today said to be extremely shocked by the killing, and had not been able to talk to police.

Det Supt Hankins said: "I am appealing for the public s help in identifying those responsible and appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

"The victim s girlfriend is extremely shocked and traumatised by what has happened. But she has been able to tell us that there were up to 10 youths in the assault.

"While it s thought that they are all Asian, we don t as yet have any further descriptions and it s vital that the public help us to piece together what happened.

"Anyone who has any idea at all should contact us. No matter how insignificant they feel the information may be, it could be crucial to the inquiry."

Ross s body was still at the scene today, and was being examined by expert officers. A post-mortem was due to be held today.

l The manager of the Solstice pub in Northminster Road, where Ross had worked for about a year, said he felt the city was becoming an increasingly violent place.

Mark Lawler added: "Ross was a really nice guy. I haven t got a bad word to say about him. The whole pub is in disbelief."

>> Race equality leader calls for calm

THE director of the citys Racial Equality Council today expressed his horror at the abhorrent killing.

Harmesh Lakhanpaul, who is also a city councillor, pledged to work with all sections of the community to bring the murderers to justice.

He told The Evening Telegraph: "I totally and utterly condemn this attack, it is abhorrent and unacceptable. I would like to express my profound empathy with the victims family and let them know I will be working with the police to try to track down the people responsible.

"We have tried so hard at the Peterborough Racial Equality Council, in the light of recent events in America, to build solid and strong community relations, but I think that if it is proved that this murder is a racial attack then those relations will suffer as a result.

"It is a very disturbing situation. I will be asking police to work swiftly on this to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"This is an horrendous attack and any kind of racial attack perpetrated by anyone is going to create more tension. I would ask people to be calm at this time."

>> If you have any information that might help police call 01733 563232 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111